Phase I of Bikeshare Hawaii will be focused on Oahu's urban core, from Chinatown to Waikiki as well as the University of Hawaii at Manoa. The program will feature 1,700 bicycles and 180 stations.

"When the Hawaii Bicycling League first heard that Miami Beach was a very successful program, then we began to think that even without as much infrastructure as we want in the long-term, that Bikeshare can work," Chad Taniguchi, HBL executive director, testified before members of the City Council's Transportation Committee Thursday.

The concept behind Bikeshare is simple – customers pay for a pass and use bikes from station to station.

"It's so fun," Kaimuki resident Asia Yeary told council members. "I mean, it is really fun; it's a great experience!" Yeary said she has tried Bikeshare in Denver, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.

A pilot project in Kailua that began in May 2011 has proven successful despite its limited scope of only two stations.

Shem Lawlor, a planner with the city's Department of Planning and Permitting who's helping to organize the program, laid out the start-up costs for the program: $550,000 in administrative costs, $11.9 million in capital and $3.2 million in annual operation and maintenance.

However, Bikeshare is not expected to peddle the city more into the red as the administration chases a $156 million deficit for the upcoming fiscal year. Officials say the program is expected to pay for itself and then some.

"Based on our consultant's estimate, it looks like the system would probably bring in about 130 percent to 190 percent of the revenue needed to pay for the operating and maintenance costs," said Lawlor. "That's very preliminary; I think that'll change as the vendor is brought on board."

The city and state are using a nonprofit model to guide the project to fruition, and have already created a 501(c)(3) corporation called Bikeshare Hawaii. Anticipated profits from the program can be used to pay back the city for its upfront investment and, eventually, expansion to other parts of the island.

"There's a synergy to it," said city Transportation Services Director Mike Formby. "Once it gets going, it takes off."

Bikeshare stations will be set up along sidewalks, government-controlled parcels or private property. Project coordinators say there's very little chance a large number of bikes would ever be stolen.

"They have built-in GPS... and every rental of a bike is backed up by a membership and a credit card," said Lawlor. "So, members really can't steal the bikes without being charged the value of the bike."

The Outdoor Circle has concerns about any signage that may accompany corporate sponsorships, but that issue has yet to be decided.

officials will put new meaning behind the phrase "get up and go!" Bikeshare Hawaii is being fast-tracked for the urban core, and that means a short trip to the corner store or even the beach will be a whole lot easier. KITV-4's Andrew Pereira joining us now with more LOCAL news ... on the effort to put more bikes on our streets. Andrew? Yunji, Paula... In this age of debt and deficits, the Bikeshare program promises to be riding completely in the black. If you want to use peddle power to get across town or just a few blocks, you need two wheels of your own. However Bikeshare Hawaii hopes to change that. CHAD TANIGUCHI: "WHEN THE HAWAII BICYCLING LEAGUE FIRST HEARD THAT MIAMI BEACH WAS A VERY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM THEN WE BEGAN TO THINK THAT EVEN WITHOUT AS MUCH INFRASTRUCTURE AS WE WANT IN THE LONGTERM THAT BIKESHARE CAN WORK." A pilot project that began in Kailua in May, 2011 has proven successful. The concept is simple, customers pay for a pass and use bikes from station to station. ASIA YEARY: "IT'S SO FUN. HAVE YOU TRIED IT BEFORE? I MEAN IT IS REALLY FUN; IT'S A GREAT EXPERIENCE." Soon, thousands of locals and visitors alike can experience Bikeshare first hand. The city and state are teaming up for the first phase of the project... 1,700 bikes and 180 stations from Chinatown to Waikiki and UH Manoa. SHEM LAWLOR: "KIND OF THE STANDARD PRICE FOR AN ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP IS ANYWHERE FROM $70 TO $99 FOR A YEAR 3453 AND THAT'S UNLIMITED RIDES FOR A HALF HOUR OR 45 MINUTES EACH RIDE." However monthly and day passes will also be available. Here's what the startup looks like: $550,000 for administrative costs $11.9 million in capital And $3.2 million in annual operation and maintenance For taxpayers worried the program will peddle the city more into the red, officials say don't... the program is expected to pay for itself and then some. SHEM LAWLOR: "IT LOOKS LIKE THE SYSTEM WOULD PROBABLY BRING IN ABOUT 130 TO 190 PERCENT OF THE REVENUE NEEDED TO PAY FOR THE OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE COSTS." That means an annual profit between $1.5 million and $3.5 million, which can be used to pay back the city's initial investment and eventually expand the program. The target date for phase 1 completion is summer of 2015. MIKE FORMBY: "AND THERE'S A SYNERGY TO IT, ONCE IT GETS GOING IT TAKES OFF." ANDREW PEREIRA: "BIKESHARE STATIONS WOULD BE SETUP ALONG SIDEWALKS OR GOVERNMENT OR PRIVATE PROPERTY. AND PROJECT COORDINATORS SAY THERE'S VERY LITTLE CHANGE A LARGE NUMBER OF BIKES WOULD EVER BE STOLEN." SHEM LAWLOR: "THE HAVE BUILT IN GPS, ALMOST ALL OF THE SYSTEMS DO NOW. AND EVERY RENTAL OF A BIKE IS BACKED UP BY A MEMBERSHIP AND A CREDIT CARD." A nonprofit corporation, Bikeshare Hawaii, has already been created to guide the project to fruition. Organizers will also seek corporate sponsorships. The Outdoor Circle has concerns about signage, but that's yet to be decided. Back to

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